Joey Bosa used to be a top-flight edge rusher. The type of edge rusher that offenses needed to scheme against for the entire game. It’s been quite a while since Bosa was the dominant leader of a defense, but he still holds value. Just not in the same way there used to be.
Joey Bosa is not the centerpiece of a defense anymore. He is a piece, and potentially a devastating one if utilized correctly. The question is, which team would he be the best fit at heading into the 2026 season?
3 Teams That Make the Most Sense for Joey Bosa Right Now
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers almost too good of a fit to ignore. While it’s always enticing to imagine Joey lining up on the opposite side of Nick Bosa, there is much more to it than that. San Francisco already has a strong pass rush, and the addition of another player here will not be carrying any sort of burden. This is why this why the addition of Joey Bosa makes sense.
Bosa could be on a team where he needs to just win matchups. He wouldn’t be the sole object of every protection scheme and game plan. Fewer double teams and easier matchups could mean less wear on him overall, keeping him fresh for critical third and fourth downs. If he’s not looking to carry an entire defensive line, the 49ers would make perfect sense.
Baltimore Ravens
Out of any team that could make football sense, it would be the Baltimore Ravens. It’s about pressure in Baltimore, sure, but it’s not about dominant single-man pass rush. The Ravens are all about waves of pressure. They rotate players in so much to keep guys fresh, that Bosa could be a really good rotational player there and attack on passing downs where his instincts and ability still play really well. Baltimore is all about winning individual matchups and that’s where Joey Bosa can really thrive if he’s not worried about playing 70 snaps a game.
BREAKING: The Baltimore #Ravens are one of the FAVORITES to sign free agent pass rusher Joey Bosa.
There is a 49.5% chance that Bosa signs with Baltimore, per Polymarket.
Joey is 30 years old, a former DRoY and 5x Pro Bowler.
Bosa paired with Trey Hendrickson would be SPECIAL. pic.twitter.com/FG8kyYFdt4
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) May 4, 2026
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears feel like another fit. They need to build a pass rush, but not necessarily have the entire defense be reliant on it. If the Bears bring Joey Bosa in to play alongside Montez Sweat, they’re going to have two good edge rushers who are both capable of getting to the passer. Both are going to have better matchups because the other guy will force defenses to respect them too. Sweat is likely going to need to be able to take the bulk of the work at edge rusher in Chicago. But Bosa could be in a similar situation as he would be in San Francisco where he’s used specifically in situations he can be effective in.
Bosa is a role player now
At this stage of his career, you can’t have a conversation about Joey Bosa without focusing on what he is, and not what he once was. There’s a value to what he brings, but only if utilized correctly. All three of these teams seem to have that down already; they don’t need the game-changing savior that Bosa once was. He is a role player now, and that is something that these three teams will surely understand if they can get their hands on him.
Main Image: Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
